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Allergic Bronchopulmonary Aspergillosis

1999; Annual Reviews; Volume: 50; Issue: 1 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1146/annurev.med.50.1.303

1545-326X

Barbara A. Cockrill, Charles A. Hales,

Respiratory and Cough-Related Research

Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA) is a syndrome seen in patients with asthma and cystic fibrosis. It is characterized by chronic colonization of the airways with a ubiquitous fungus, Aspergillus fumigatus. The clinical expression of ABPA results from the complex interaction of chronic colonization of the airways with A. fumigatus, host factors allowing this colonization, and the host's genetically determined immune response. Clinically the syndrome is characterized by recurrent episodes of wheezing, mucus production, pulmonary infiltrates, and elevated levels of serum IgE. Many patients develop central bronchiectasis, and a subset will go on to end-stage fibrotic lung disease. It is thought that treatment will prevent this progression. The mainstay of therapy remains oral corticosteroids.